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Recruiting Wrap

Illini have 'great deal of interest' in Siakam

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:37 AM

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Most blue-collar basketball players get the reputation that they have a limited upside. Carbondale Brehm Prep coach Aaron Lee doesn't think that's true for James Siakam.

The 6-foot-6 junior, ranked the No. 101 prospect in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.com, has a reputation as a relentless worker in the post after averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore. But Lee stresses that the Cameroon native has only been playing basketball for about two years.

"He's doing what he's been able to do without a whole lot of information or a lot of court time," Lee said. "He has not played very much. So once he figures out how to play and his footwork improves, James' upside is incredible."

Siakam has been practicing more as a wing, a position he'll likely play in college. Though Siakam will play primarily in the post this season for Brehm Prep, Lee said the junior standout "continues to develop" his perimeter skills.

"His footwork needs to improve greatly as does his ballhandling," Lee said. "But James is a warrior. James works hard all the time. He competes, he competes and he competes some more. Our problem is that we don't have anybody at his position that competes as hard as he does. We're hoping with some time, (Chicago De La Salle transfer) Dre Henley becomes that guy. Because if Dre Henley develops that work ethic and that intensity, we're all going to get better. Right now, James is playing against himself, and that can be difficult for a junior."

The Brehm Prep standout has scholarship offers from Boston College, Harvard, Southern Illinois and Vanderbilt. Other schools showing high interest include Illinois, Florida State, Purdue, Wisconsin, DePaul, Nebraska and Arizona.

Illinois has yet to offer Siakam, but head coach Bruce Weber and the Illini staff continue to recruit the Brehm standout heavily.

"I know Bruce and his staff like to make good decisions, so he's going to make sure that James is a good fit," Lee said. "I've known Bruce forever. He taught me. They've shown a great deal of interest. They haven't offered yet, but that will probably happen sometime in the near future."